The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1887-06-02
ed for that Gay:

Comrades-Ladies and Gentlemen:-
Almost the fifth of century has fastened
into eyentful history since this Memorial
Day was established by order of our great
commander, who today is numbered
with the dead and over whose grave at
this very hour his bereft comrades and
admlring countrymen are lavlshing ben
ediction of flowers
Y ear by year the annual roll-call of the
Grand Army of the Republic has exhib.
tied a fading away cf those scared ranks
that no "call for hundred thousand
more can ever fill. Commanders and
commanded, one after another, have been
relieved of the fatiguing duties of the
busy camp of life, and drawing the cur
tains of their couches around their weary
forms have fallen into the hush and ST.
lence OF needed rest, and no sound shall
recall them to duty again. AS we as
semble here today, in obedience to rep
etltion OF our Great Commanders order
to lay the first flowers of the blossoming
sprlngtlme on their graves, it becomes our
duty and our pride, mingled with the con-
fiicting emotions Of gladness, sorrow and
the pressure OF springing tears, to scat
ter the fragrant symbols of love and re-
lnclnbrance on the grave Of the noblest
hero of them all-with gladness that his
honors were full and his eternal fame Sc
cure when jealous death barred his am
btions pathway to further earthly deeds
sorrow, that the noble, loyal heart of
Logan should ever dic-tears, that the
despoiler has robbed nation of its dear
est friend and left the hearts of her pco-
pie desolate.
Death, that sincwy old warrior, before
whose prowess the achievements of desc
lating armies sink into nothingness, en-
tered into our land, Il heaven of love and
domestic peace: and noiselcssly drawing
from It's neverr rusting scaboard, the sword
thatfor ages had cleft the helmets of armor
ed kings, and pierced the invincible mail of
dauntless ccnquorers, in moment of
seeming tenderness touched the braye
heart of our hero, and the lightnings on
that sadday bore around sympathizing
world the pathetic legend
LOGAN IS DEAD!'
Language cannot interpret the emo
TORS of our hearts today, but
''Silence hath spell !
That breatheth more than any tongue can TELL"
and by the silence of a voiceless sorrow
VIC would best express our feelings; trust
ing that in some future time some elo-
quent wizard of words may conjure from
among the grandcst symbols of thought
a fitting culogy of his life and deeds;
trusting, that voices attuned to finer
symphonies than now are known may
hymn the love and blessings of mankind |
in worthy requiem beside his tomb;
trusting that some very genius of sadness
yet unborn may gather up from among
all the dlrges OF the years the scattered
notes of human grief, and chant the
mourntul measures of a nation sorrows
for his death.
Comrades of the Grand Army of the
Republic, with this brief and meager
tribute to our great commander, [ offer
the following for your approval
Resolved, That we love and honor Lo
Resolved, That the name Of Logan is
worthy monument grander aad more
enduring than can be reared by the ar.
chitectural skill of man, and that we, to-
day, lay the foundation OF never de.
cayi1g monument to his fame, by teach
ing our children the inspiring story OF his
grand and noble lite, that they may tell
it again unto theirs, in eternal repetition.
thot when prosperous ages shall be added |
to the life of cur republic and flowers
shall bloom as now in the beautiful gar
dens of the free, eager hands shall hasten
to pluck the fairest from their beds, and !
in their freshness of fragrance lay them,
as tokens Of remembrance on the ever
green grave of Logan.
Resolved, That our hearts 90 out in
true soldiers sympathy to the bereaved
family OF our revercd commander and
comrade, and we salute them with cheer
fulness that springs from a recognition of
the truth that our all embracing mother
earth has only taken to her bosom and
soothed into restful slumber the weary
form OF her dutiful and loyal son, while
there remains to family and friends an
ever-present memory of gentleness min
gled in a. life of grand heroic deeds; a
memory that whispers closely by the
yearning ear of love, Death, to such as
Logan, is the beginning of lite.
Resolved, That We, in our hearts today
renew our gratitude to that power that,
bestowed on man the gift recollection,
that we may remember the good, the
grand and The heroic in human lives,
such as Logan's was; SO
"Prudent i'll the council train
Dauntless on the battle plain,
Ready at his country's need,
10 harm r1priN fnh h1.aI